I’m told that the Skipper’s Shout should offer an insight into the what the boys are up to and that my challenge today is to be more witty and charismatic than Ashley Smith –which shouldn’t be a difficult job seeing as he’s a 40-year-old man in a 23 year old body…
On the training front, it’s not been an easy week with the torrential weather. The coaches have had to think outside of the box to keep the intensity up but certainly motivation won’t be an issue coming off the back of last week’s frustrating match.
We were all disappointed with our underperformance last week in Exeter. The first half was poor but the improvement in the second half plus the elements we have worked on this week have left us feeling confident coming into today’s return leg. Home advantage is massive for us and we intend to retain our unbeaten European record here today.
Congratulations to Andy (Tuilagi) who really got to jump in at the deep end last week. Being put in at the last minute to play a full 80 minutes away to Exeter where he broke his arm last season was a big ask for him – especially after his layoff with injury. Although I’m sure he’d like to be a bit more match-fit and he has been pretty sore this week he has certainly made an impact.
Obviously the big news this week is that Luke is leaving the Dragons at the end of the season after only a decade at Rodney Parade. I think I speak for all the squad when I say that we are all pretty disappointed with his lack of commitment to the region and unwillingness to stick somewhere… Of course I’m only kidding!
10 years is a long time for anyone to stay with one team and Luke has given his all for us from day one. I’m sure he’ll be a great success wherever he goes. On the plus side, the lifters in the line-out will no doubt be relieved that they won’t be lugging his 20 stone 4lbs around next season.
Now that was definitely funnier than Ashley.
On the training front, it’s not been an easy week with the torrential weather. The coaches have had to think outside of the box to keep the intensity up but certainly motivation won’t be an issue coming off the back of last week’s frustrating match.
We were all disappointed with our underperformance last week in Exeter. The first half was poor but the improvement in the second half plus the elements we have worked on this week have left us feeling confident coming into today’s return leg. Home advantage is massive for us and we intend to retain our unbeaten European record here today.
Congratulations to Andy (Tuilagi) who really got to jump in at the deep end last week. Being put in at the last minute to play a full 80 minutes away to Exeter where he broke his arm last season was a big ask for him – especially after his layoff with injury. Although I’m sure he’d like to be a bit more match-fit and he has been pretty sore this week he has certainly made an impact.
Obviously the big news this week is that Luke is leaving the Dragons at the end of the season after only a decade at Rodney Parade. I think I speak for all the squad when I say that we are all pretty disappointed with his lack of commitment to the region and unwillingness to stick somewhere… Of course I’m only kidding!
10 years is a long time for anyone to stay with one team and Luke has given his all for us from day one. I’m sure he’ll be a great success wherever he goes. On the plus side, the lifters in the line-out will no doubt be relieved that they won’t be lugging his 20 stone 4lbs around next season.
Now that was definitely funnier than Ashley.
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